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What is ArcGIS for Collector?

There are 2 main concepts that are essential to understand about Collector.

1. You need a Web Map.


2. You need a Feature Layer (data inside ArcGIS Online) that has been configured as BEING
EDITABLE. Also, this Feature Layer must be added to a Web Map (see #1) and saved.
There are 2 different ways that you can get this Feature Layer into ArcGIS Online.

1. Option 1 allows you to create a CSV file in Excel with whichever field names youd like to
include in your data collection. For example, if youre collecting Tree data, you might
want fields like Health, DBH, Species etc.
a. In this option, you MUST have fields for either Latitude & Longitude, or Address.
This is because ArcGIS Online needs coordinates or an address to reference in
order to create the Feature Layer.
b. These field names cannot have spaces or special characters in them, or you will
be unable to use the CSV in ArcGIS Online.
c. *This CSV does not need to have data in it (i.e. you dont need to fill in any rows
in Excel. Just input the field names).

d. Once youve set up your fields, sign into ArcGIS Online (www.arcgis.com) and go
to My Content.
e. Click
, and select From my Computer. Navigate to your CSV file
and fill in the Title and Tags (a keyword) fields.
f. A Feature Layer will be created.
g. Go to the Details page of your Feature Layer and click on
h. Scroll down into the Properties section. Now, youre going to make this Feature
Layer EDITABLE. Decide how much/what youd like people to edit (normally the
first option is good).

Created: November 2015


Questions? K12@esri.ca

i. The Sync option allows people who are using Collector to collect their points/data
while not connected to Wifi or have any service at all. I would recommend
ALLOWING this option. Then, once they get back to Wifi or have service again,
they can Sync their edits to ArcGIS Online.
j. *If you collect your data without synching, that just means that the edits will be
saved to ArcGIS Online automatically.
k. You can also enable Editor Tracking, which means that the username and
date/time of whoever collected the point will appear with the data. You can also
make it so people can only update and delete feature that theyve collected.

l. Click SAVE. Congrats! Youve made an editable Feature Layer!


m. Lastly, you can enable attachments on this Feature Layer, so that people can take
a picture or video in the field and attach it to the data theyve collected. To do
this, scroll to the Layers section (still in the Details page).
n. Click on the tiny arrow beside the name of your Feature Layer, and click on
Enable Attachments.

o. Youre doing great! Now, you just need to add this Feature Layer to a map. Click
on Open, and Add Layer to New Map with Editing Enabled.

Created: November 2015


Questions? K12@esri.ca

p. Save your Web map


, which means it will be added into your My
Content. We need to change one more option, so from within your Web map,
click on Home -> My Content -> find your map, and click on the tiny arrow beside
its name. Click on View Item Details.
q. Click on Edit, and click on Enable Offline Mode. If youve allowed Sync (step i),
you have to do this step in order to collect features offline.
r. Youre ready!
2. Option 2 is to use a pre-made Esri Feature Layer template. Take a look at what they
have, and see if one of them can work for you.
a. Go to My Content, and click Create Feature Layer.

b. Browse the different templates.


c. *Basically, this is just an empty Feature Layer with a bunch of fields already made
for you. If theres one that you think will have some fields that you can use, try it!
d. If you find a template that looks useful, click on it and then click Next several
times.
e. Once you get the data into a Web map, you can open the table (click on the little
table icon under the layer)

f. Then, you can see what fields they have! You can also delete a field if you dont
want it, and add your own fields in.
g. To delete a field, hover over the field name until you see the little cog icon, and
click Delete.

h. To add a field, click on Table Options in the far right, and click Add Field.
Created: November 2015
Questions? K12@esri.ca

*Note in Collector, if your map has a little


can download it and use it offline.

icon beside it, that means that you

*Note adding your Web Map to a group will make it easier for others to find and edit

Created: November 2015


Questions? K12@esri.ca

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